Melbourne woman loses NZ passport due to ‘security threat’

A Melbourne-based woman has had her New Zealand passport cancelled. Picture: AlamySource:Alamy

A WOMAN living in Australia is going to be stripped of her Kiwi passport because she is seen as a national security threat.

The cancellation of the Victorian resident’s passport is because she is thought to be a threat to the security of another country that is not New Zealand.

A High Court of New Zealand judgment revealed officials in Wellington viewed the Melbourne-based woman as “a danger to the security of a country other than New Zealand”.

The judgment does not say what country is thought to be at risk.

Australian authorities were reluctant to comment on the case, with the federal police refusing to “confirm or deny” their involvement.

The woman is challenging the decision to cancel the passport through a judicial review — but neither she or her lawyers will be allowed to listen to the evidence against her because the evidence the New Zealand Minister of Internal Affairs relied on was “classified security information”.

The woman has been challenging the courts right to discuss he case in secret if there was no concern for New Zealand national security.

In his recently published judgment Justice Robert Dobson said: “There may arguably be grounds for questioning the extent of national security concerns in cases where no issue of New Zealand’s own national security arises. In those cases, including the present one, a potentially less compelling concern is likely to arise that disclosure of the information held will compromise the processes for investigation or availability of reciprocal exchange of information with security services in other countries.”

However he continued: “I anticipate that the Minister would argue that extending the definition of classified security information was demonstrably justified because it forms part of provisions that reflect New Zealand’s important commitment to anti terrorism measures that are reciprocated by other like-minded nations.”

Australia works closely with New Zealand in policing and intelligence gathering. The two countries are part of the Five Eyes spying partnership also including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

A spokeswoman for the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection said the woman’s case was a matter for the New Zealand courts.

Asked how she could stay in Australia, the spokeswoman said: “The Department does not comment on an individual’s immigration history.”

An AFP spokeswoman said they do not comment on who might be the “subject of ongoing investigations”.

“The AFP works with a range of Australian and international partner agencies to share intelligence on national security matters of mutual concern, ultimately helping to ensure the safety of the Australian community,” the spokeswoman said.

Deputy Australian Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce attempted to summarise “Australian values” on Thursday, April 20, naming gender equality and a tough stance on domestic violence as qualities that defined the nation. Joyce made the comments in the wake of an announcement by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who said the Australian citizenship test would become tougher and would put “Australian values at the heart of the citizenship processes and requirements,” the ABC reported. The Federal Government’s proposed new barriers to citizenship include increasing the wait time from 12 months to four years, more stringent English language requirements and penalties for repeatedly failing the test. “I don’t think we should be embarrassed that we are based on a Judeo-Christian principle… a society based on forgiveness, equality of people, men and women who are equal before the law, equal rights,” Joyce said. “These should be left alone. You’re not allowed to beat people up if you don’t like them, you can’t beat up your wife, you can’t go and hurt people and diminish their lives.” Later, Joyce addressed reporters, apparently drawing links between migrant people and domestic violence when he said, “we don’t believe there is a polite way to beat up your wife. If you want to beat up your wife, you can’t become a citizen of this nation.” Credit: Barnaby Joyce via Storyful